Kindness and Honesty

We sometimes forget what true kindness and goodness of heart means to ourselves and others. In a world where it is often believed that “honesty at all cost” is the right way to be, I believe that honesty and criticism are too close to be told as easily as we do.

I do understand the importance of honesty and truthfulness and I do believe it is required and needed in specific instances. Additionally, I do also believe that they tend to be “received” as criticism by some. Honesty and truthfulness are important basic characteristics to have and “practice” at work, in our professional lives and also in our daily interactions with people in general. Being truthful makes us good people who are trustworthy and reliable. I often contemplate the reason why we feel the need to voice our honest, truthful opinion about things and I do believe that it comes from a good place of trying to help others and keep them from making “mistakes” or decisions that we have already tried and found out weren’t good. Maybe the question is: If we are honest and truthful people, why do we need to say that same truth out loud to others? Would honesty be honesty if we kept it to ourselves and only act upon it?

One of the definitions of the word Honest is to be morally correct or virtuous, meaning it is something we do for ourselves as a way to become “more virtuous”, consequently, we shouldn’t share our honest opinion unless asked for.

Kindness to me is important and quite far above other characteristics. Kindness doesn’t need to be told, explained or understood. When a person is kind or decides to be so, they only need to be considerate and friendly. Kindness to one self and to others is having the quality of being considerate and friendly without expectations. In my opinion, this trait of character is beautiful because of the good it brings inside and out and it cannot be interpreted as anything bad.

One of the examples I like to use for kindness is one inside the family. We often do things and help members of our families with issues, tasks and others; being kind at heart would mean to give the help needed without expressing our own opinions on how and what is done. Let’s say I am helping my brother with folding laundry because he asked me to, I will not criticize the way the laundry smells, how he organizes his clothes in his closet or why he hasn’t folded it sooner. Kindness is asking what can be helpful and do it the way they want the help. We each know the things we can change and the things that “aren’t right”, we don’t really need additional input into our own issues. Kindness is simple, and doesn't need much effort. Being there for yourself and/or for others you agreed to help and be kind to. Most people crave this kindness, non-judgmental, accepting, friendly feelings but most don’t ask for it or don’t know how.

I think that kindness is underrated and much simpler than people think. Practicing kindness to yourself is also accepting that not everything has to be exactly the way you have known or planned. Towards others, kindness feels like a breath of french air, calming and comforting when things don’t feel under our control. Be kind to yourself and others.